^ L. A. Banks, The King's Sieivards, 211.
* C. B. Keenleyside, God's Fellow- IVorkers, 60.
358 SALVATION TO THE UTTERMOST
(2) But the expression " to the uttermost " may deaote dura- tion. ] t is rendered in the margin " evermore." He is able to save evermore. This indeed seems to be the true meaning of the word, from the connexion in which it stands with regard to the unchangeable priesthood of Christ. "He is able to save ever- more," in all ages of the Church, and under all the circumstances in which His believing people may be placed. It was the con- viction of this ability of Christ to save even in the most un- favourable and untoward circumstances, that led the Apostle to say, " When I am weak, then am I strong " (2 Cor. xii. 10). A sense of his weakness led him to seek strength from Christ ; and His grace was then found to be sufficient to support His feeble servant. His strength was made perfect, was manifested to be everything that was needed by the weakness of him who sought Divine help in the time of need. At all times, and under all circumstances, the Lord Jesus is able to save.
^ A brilliant essayist has said that the dangerous years are the forties — the years when men begin to be rich, when they have opportunities of gratifying their passions, when they perhaps imagine that they have led a starved and meagre existence. There are many, no doubt, who are protected, but even they must not presume ; and perhaps there are many more who have the worst and most dangerous experiences of their life after conver- sion, who come to waters that almost swallow them up, and to fires that sweep and roar on every side. They pass the time of their sojour))ing here in fear. The old temptations shake the sinking frame at even. What is perhaps the greatest danger is that declension which is unrecognized by ourselves. Men may continue to be respectable. They may win the prizes of life; they may be more and more prosperous, and they may take no open leave of their Saviour and their faith. They may be saved from the sins which force themselves upon the eyes of others, but all the while love may be growing cold, enthusiasm may be chilled, devotion may dwindle, goodness may die. It is only in Him who is able to save to the uttermost that we can rest our hope.^
* W. Robertsou Nicoll, Sunday Ecening, 362.
HEBREWS VII. 25 359
11.
The Continual Intercession.
"Seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."
The two principal passages of Scripture where intercession is directly spoken of are this text and Eom. viii. 34, in which the same word is used as in this text. The word which in these two passages is translated " to make intercession," just means to plead with — to use entreaties and importunities (in order to obtain something we desire) with reference to another person. The word is of general signification, and applies either to pleading for or to pleading against another. In the only other cases in the New Testament where the word occurs, i.e., except in the text, and in the eighth chapter of the Epistle to the Eomans, it is em- ployed in the sense of using entreaties or importunities against others. These are Acts xxv. 24 (" dealt with " is the same word) and Eom. xi. 2 — passages which, taken in connexion with those formerly referred to that speak directly of the intercession of Christ for His people, show clearly the general idea involved in it, namely, pleading with regard to others. Christ's intercession for His people therefore implies that He pleads with God for them, that He is using prayers and entreaties with His Father on their behalf.
Now the great general idea that is involved in all the different statements of Scripture on this subject, the great truth implied in the doctrine of Christ's intercession, is that nothing takes place with regard to any of those whom God has given to Christ except in consequence of a request or prayer to that effect, and with that view, presented by Christ at the throne of His Father, and heard and answered, on account of the merit He wrought out, and the glory to which He has been exalted. Christ is continually presenting before His Father His wishes with regard to what His people should enjoy and suffer; and their enjoyments and their sufferings, their trials and their supplies of grace, are just what He sees to be best for them, what He in consequence wishes and pleads for on their behalf, and what they therefore certainly receive. This is what is implied in
36o SALVATION TO THE UTTERMOST
Christ's intercession. He is continually offering up prayers and desires on behalf of His people, according as He sees what is most suited to their wants, and most conducive to their welfare. And those wishes and desires are always heard and answered; they are always followed by the events which He pleads for.
1. Christ emr lives to make intercession. The ascending argument of the writer proves that He ever lives, and has, there- fore, an immutable priesthood. For, first, He is of the royal tribe, and the oath of God to David guarantees that of his kingdom there shall be no end. Again, in the greatness of His personality, He is endowed with the power of an endless life. Moreover, as Priest He has been established in His office by oath. He is therefore Priest for ever.